Now that you have your gifts ready to go, how can you wrap them without spending a fortune on paper and ribbon and at the same time reduce your use of paper and excess waste? The majority of wrapping paper out there cannot be recycled because of its low quality and/ or the addition of foil and decorative features. Following are some ideas to get you thinking of alternate ways to wrap up all your gifts for the holiday season and year round:
1. This video features three projects with recycled paper scraps: gift tags, quilted cards, and quilted tags than can double as bookmarks.
2. The Lean Green Family has featured a variety of wrapping alternatives, such as using cinch-sack backpacks and boots to hold gifts!
3. The State of Maine Planning Office has put together a really nice compilation of eco-friendly ideas called, “Holiday Reduction & Recycling Tips.” It not only includes alternatives to wrapping paper, but tips on recycling holiday trees, cardboard, batteries, and much more.
4. Apron Thrift Girl posted some useful ideas and posted a great picture of the reusable fabric she used to wrap presents. As she notes, two gifts in one!
5. How about recycled paper bows? This great tutorial shows you how to make your own bows out of old magazines.
Suggestions from Goodwill Staff Members:
* Wrap gifts in brown paper shopping bags and decorate with stickers, stamps, or your own design.
* Wrap gifts in old maps, fabric, or children’s artwork.
* Wrap gifts in last year’s wall calendar or old posters and prints.
* Give gifts in reusable and useful containers, such as cloth bags (pick a bunch up at Goodwill for only $0.98 each!), tins, baskets, coffee mugs, and wooden boxes.
* Cut up old holiday cards for gift tags.
* If you are mailing packages, consider packing your box with popcorn or shredded scrap paper instead of Styrofoam peanuts.
* Wrap your gift in the comics section of the newspaper or colorful pages from a magazine.
* Save wrapping paper you receive and reuse!
* Give a decorative towel as part of your present and wrap the gift inside.
* Buy a large roll of plain brown butcher paper (this employee states that this roll has lasted him years). He uses it to wrap holiday gifts and gifts given throughout the year. The packages are decorated with holiday cards received in the past and tied with ribbons and items from the beach and woods, such as balsam sprigs, pine cones, sand dollars, beach glass, and other “found” items. What a great idea!
Thanks for sending your readers to my blog’s new home on Word Press. FYI, I’ve changed the name back to Suddenly Frugal. I’ll still include some green tips, especially if they save folks money. Thanks again.
Leah